Shigeru Ishiba, head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was on Tuesday formally elected Japan’s 102nd Prime Minister in a vote by lawmakers on the first day of an extraordinary session of Parliament. He will announce his new Cabinet later in the day.
Ishiba, who was chosen as the party’s leader on Friday, replaced Fumio Kishida, who stepped down earlier in the day, AP reported.
Members of the lower and upper houses, where the LDP has majority, chose Ishiba over nominees from opposition parties. Later in the afternoon, Ishiba, the former defense minister, who has served in the Diet for nearly four decades, will be formally appointed by Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace.
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The pressing challenged faced by the new Japanese PM, include the country’s declining population and a fragile economy still affected by a decades long battle with deflation. On the national security front, issues include increasing threats from China, North Korea and Russia and dealing with a new president to be elected in the US next month.
Fumio Kishida took office in 2021 but left so his party could have a fresh leader after his government was dogged by scandals. Ishiba plans to call a parliamentary election for October 27.
“I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public’s judgment as soon as possible,” Ishiba said on Monday in announcing his plan to call a snap election.
Ishiba’s path to becoming Prime Minister has been marked by persistence and resilience. At 67, he has made five attempts to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan’s ruling party since 1955. In his most recent campaign, Ishiba triumphed over economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, who was aiming to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister. The race culminated in a run-off vote, with Ishiba securing 215 votes to Takaichi’s 194, cementing his role as Kishida’s successor.